When the lords and princes of the pit saw the flaming desire
that was in Diabolus to devour the miserable town of Mansoul,
they left off to raise any more objections, but consented to
lend him what strength they could, though had Apollyon's
advice been taken, they had far more fearfully distressed the
town of Mansoul. But, I say, they were willing to lend him
what strength they could, not knowing what need they might
have of him, when they should engage for themselves, as he.
Wherefore they fell to advising about the next thing
propounded, namely, what soldiers they were, and also how
many, with whom Diabolus should go against the town of
Mansoul to take it; and after some debate, it was concluded,
according as in the letter the Diabolonians had suggested,
that none were more fit for that expedition than an army of
terrible doubters. They therefore concluded to send against
Mansoul an army of sturdy doubters. The number thought fit
to be employed in that service was between twenty and thirty
thousand. So then the result of that great council of those
high and mighty lords was - That Diabolus should even now,
out of hand, beat up his drum for men in the land of
Doubting, which land lieth upon the confines of the place
called Hell-Gate Hill, for men that might be employed by him
against the miserable town of Mansoul. It was also
concluded, that these lords themselves should help him in the
war, and that they would to that end head and manage his men.
So they drew up a letter, and sent back to the Diabolonians
that lurked in Mansoul, and that waited for the back-coming
of Mr. Profane, to signify to them into what method and
forwardness they at present had put their design. The
contents whereof now follow:-

'From the dark and horrible dungeon of hell, Diabolus with
all the society of the princes of darkness, sends to our
trusty ones, in and about the walls of the town of Mansoul,
now impatiently waiting for our most devilish answer to their
venomous and most poisonous design against the town of
Mansoul.

'Our native ones, in whom from day to day we boast, and in
whose actions all the year long we do greatly delight
ourselves, we received your welcome, because highly esteemed
letter, at the hand of our trusty and greatly beloved, the
old gentleman, Mr. Profane. And do give you to understand,
that when we had broken it up, and had read the contents
thereof, to your amazing memory be it spoken, our yawning
hollow-bellied place, where we are, made so hideous and
yelling a noise for joy, that the mountains that stand round
about Hell-Gate Hill, had like to have been shaken to pieces
at the sound thereof.

'We could also do no less than admire your faithfulness to
us, with the greatness of that subtilty that now hath showed
itself to be in your heads to serve us against the town of
Mansoul. For you have invented for us so excellent a method
for our proceeding against that rebellious people, a more
effectual cannot be thought of by all the wits of hell. The
proposals, therefore, which now, at last, you have sent us,
since we saw them, we have done little else but highly
approved and admired them.

'Nay, we shall, to encourage you in the profundity of your
craft, let you know, that, at a full assembly and conclave of
our princes and principalities of this place, your project
was discoursed and tossed from one side of our cave to the
other by their mightinesses; but a better, and as was by
themselves judged, a more fit and proper way by all their
wits, could not be invented, to surprise, take, and make our
own, the rebellious town of Mansoul.

'Wherefore, in fine, all that was said that varied from what
you had in your letter propounded, fell of itself to the
ground, and yours only was stuck to by Diabolus, the prince;
yea, his gaping gorge and yawning paunch was on fire to put
your invention into execution.

'We therefore give you to understand that our stout, furious,
and unmerciful Diabolus is raising, for your relief, and the
ruin of the rebellious town of Mansoul, more than twenty
thousand doubters to come against that people. They are all
stout and sturdy men, and men that of old have been
accustomed to war, and that can therefore well endure the
drum. I say, he is doing this work of his with all the
possible speed he can; for his heart and spirit is engaged in
it. We desire, therefore, that, as you have hitherto stuck
to us, and given us both advice and encouragement thus far,
you still will prosecute our design; nor shall you lose, but
be gainers thereby; yea, we intend to make you the lords of
Mansoul.

'One thing may not by any means be omitted, that is, those
with us do desire that every one of you that are in Mansoul
would still use all your power, cunning, and skill, with
delusive persuasions, yet to draw the town of Mansoul into
more sin and wickedness, even that sin may be finished and
bring forth death.

'For thus it is concluded with us, that the more vile,
sinful, and debauched the town of Mansoul is, more backward
will be their Emmanuel to come to their help, either by
presence or other relief; yea, the more sinful, the more
weak, and so the more unable will they be to make resistance
when we shall make our assault upon them to swallow them up.
Yea, that may cause that their mighty Shaddai himself may
cast them out of his protection; yea, and send for his
captains and soldiers home, with his slings and rams, and
leave them naked and bare; and then the town of Mansoul will
of itself open to us, and fall as the fig into the mouth of
the eater. Yea, to be sure. that we then with a great deal
of ease shall come upon her and overcome her.

'As to the time of our coming upon Mansoul, we, as yet, have
not fully resolved upon that, though at present some of us
think as you, that a market-day, or a market-day at night,
will certainly be the best. However, do you be ready, and
when you shall hear our roaring drum without, do you be as
busy to make the most horrible confusion within. So shall
Mansoul certainly be distressed before and behind, and shall
not know which way to betake herself for help. My Lord
Lucifer, my Lord Beelzebub, my Lord Apollyon, my Lord Legion,
with the rest, salute you, as does also my Lord Diabolus; and
we wish both you, with all that you do, or shall possess, the
very self-same fruit and success for their doing as we
ourselves at present enjoy for ours.

'From our dreadful confines in the most fearful pit, we
salute you, and so do those many legions here with us,
wishing you may be as hellishly prosperous as we desire to be
ourselves. By the letter-carrier, Mr. Profane.'

Then Mr. Profane addressed himself for his return to Mansoul,
with his errand from the horrible pit to the Diabolonians
that dwelt in that town. So he came up the stairs from the
deep to the mouth of the cave where Cerberus was. Now when
Cerberus saw him, he asked how did matters go below, about
and against the town of Mansoul.

PROF. Things go as well as we can expect. The letter that I
carried thither was highly approved, and well liked by all my
lords, and I am returning to tell our Diabolonians so. I
have an answer to it here in my bosom, that I am sure will
make our masters that sent me glad; for the contents thereof
are to encourage them to pursue their design to the utmost,
and to be ready also to fall on within, when they shall see
my Lord Diabolus beleaguering the town of Mansoul.

CERB. But does he intend to go against them himself?

PROF. Does he! Ay! and he will take along with him more
than twenty thousand, all sturdy Doubters, and men of war,
picked men from the land of Doubting, to serve him in the
expedition.

Then was Cerberus glad, and said, 'And is there such brave
preparations a-making to go against the miserable town of
Mansoul? And would I might be put at the head of a thousand
of them, that I might also show my valour against the famous
town of Mansoul.'

PROF. Your wish may come to pass; you look like one that has
mettle enough, and my lord will have with him those that are
valiant and stout. But my business requires haste.

CERB. Ay, so it does. Speed thee to the town of Mansoul,
with all the deepest mischiefs that this place can afford
thee. And when thou shalt come to the house of Mr. Mischief,
the place where the Diabolonians meet to plot, tell them that
Cerberus doth wish them his service, and that if he may, he
will with the army come up against the famous town of
Mansoul.

PROF. That I will. And I know that my lords that are there
will be glad to hear it, and to see you also.

So after a few more such kind of compliments, Mr. Profane
took his leave of his friend Cerberus; and Cerberus again,
with a thousand of their pit-wishes, bid him haste, with all
speed, to his masters. The which when he had heard, he made
obeisance, and began to gather up his heels to run.

Thus, therefore, he returned, and went and came to Mansoul;
and going, as afore, to the house of Mr. Mischief, there he
found the Diabolonians assembled, and waiting for his return.
Now when he was come, and had presented himself, he also
delivered to them his letter, and adjoined this compliment to
them therewith: 'My lords, from the confines of the pit, the
high and mighty principalities and powers of the den salute
you here, the true Diabolonians of the town of Mansoul.
Wishing you always the most proper of their benedictions, for
the great service, high attempts, and brave achievements that
you have put yourselves upon, for the restoring to our prince
Diabolus the famous town of Mansoul.'

This was therefore the present state of the miserable town of
Mansoul: she had offended her Prince, and he was gone; she
had encouraged the powers of hell, by her foolishness, to
come against her to seek her utter destruction.

True, the town of Mansoul was somewhat made sensible of her
sin, but the Diabolonians were gotten into her bowels; she
cried, but Emmanuel was gone, and her cries did not fetch him
as yet again. Besides, she knew not now whether, ever or
never, he would return and come to his Mansoul again; nor did
they know the power and industry of the enemy, nor how
forward they were to put in execution that plot of hell that
they had devised against her.

They did, indeed, still send petition after petition to the
Prince, but he answered all with silence. They did neglect
reformation, and that was as Diabolus would have it; for he
knew, if they regarded iniquity in their heart, their King
would not hear their prayer; they therefore did still grow
weaker and weaker, and were as a rolling thing before the
whirlwind. They cried to their King for help, and laid
Diabolonians in their bosoms: what therefore should a King do
to them? Yea, there seemed now to be a mixture in Mansoul;
the Diabolonians and the Mansoulians would walk the streets
together. Yea, they began to seek their peace; for they
thought that, since the sickness had been so mortal in
Mansoul, it was in vain to go to handygripes with them.
Besides, the weakness of Mansoul was the strength of their
enemies; and the sins of Mansoul, the advantage of the
Diabolonians. The foes of Mansoul did also now begin to
promise themselves the town for a possession: there was no
great difference now betwixt Mansoulians and Diabolonians:
both seemed to be masters of Mansoul. Yea, the Diabolonians
increased and grew, but the town of Mansoul diminished
greatly. There were more than eleven thousand men, women,
and children that died by the sickness in Mansoul.

But now, as Shaddai would have it, there was one whose name
was Mr. Prywell, a great lover of the people of Mansoul. And
he, as his manner was, did go listening up and down in
Mansoul to see, and to hear, if at any time he might, whether
there was any design against it or no. For he was always a
jealous man, and feared some mischief sometime would befal
it, either from the Diabolonians within, or from some power
without. Now upon a time it so happened, as Mr. Prywell went
listening here and there, that he lighted upon a place called
Vilehill, in Mansoul, where Diabolonians used to meet; so
hearing a muttering, (you must know that it was in the
night,) he softly drew near to hear; nor had he stood long
under the house-end, (for there stood a house there,) but he
heard one confidently affirm, that it was not, or would not
be long before Diabolus should possess himself again of
Mansoul; and that then the Diabolonians did intend to put all
Mansoulians to the sword, and would kill and destroy the
King's captains, and drive all his soldiers out of the town.
He said, moreover, that he knew there were above twenty
thousand fighting men prepared by Diabolus for the
accomplishing of this design, and that it would not be months
before they all should see it.

When Mr. Prywell had heard this story, he did quickly believe
it was true: wherefore he went forthwith to my Lord Mayor's
house, and acquainted him therewith; who, sending for the
subordinate preacher, brake the business to him; and he as
soon gave the alarm to the town; for he was now the chief
preacher in Mansoul, because, as yet, my Lord Secretary was
ill at ease. And this was the way that the subordinate
preacher did take to alarm the town therewith. The same hour
he caused the lecture bell to be rung; so the people came
together: he gave them then a short exhortation to
watchfulness, and made Mr. Prywell's news the argument
thereof. 'For,' said he, 'an horrible plot is contrived
against Mansoul, even to massacre us all in a day, nor is
this story to be slighted; for Mr. Prywell is the author
thereof. Mr. Prywell was always a lover of Mansoul, a sober
and judicious man, a man that is no tattler, nor raiser of
false reports, but one that loves to look into the very
bottom of matters, and talks nothing of news, but by very
solid arguments.

'I will call him, and you shall hear him your own selves;' so
he called him, and he came and told his tale so punctually,
and affirmed its truth with such ample grounds, that Mansoul
fell presently under a conviction of the truth of what he
said. The preacher did also back him, saying, 'Sirs, it is
not irrational for us to believe it, for we have provoked
Shaddai to anger, and have sinned Emmanuel out of the town;
we have had too much correspondence with Diabolonians, and
have forsaken our former mercies: no marvel then, if the
enemy both within and without should design and plot our
ruin; and what time like this to do it? The sickness is now
in the town, and we have been made weak thereby. Many a good
meaning man is dead, and the Diabolonians of late grow
stronger and stronger.

'Besides,' quoth the subordinate preacher, 'I have received
from this good truth-teller this one inkling further, that he
understood by those that he overheard, that several letters
have lately passed between the furies and the Diabolonians in
order to our destruction.' When Mansoul heard all this, and
not being able to gainsay it, they lift up their voice and
wept. Mr. Prywell did also, in the presence of the townsmen,
confirm all that their subordinate preacher had said.
Wherefore they now set afresh to bewail their folly, and to a
doubling of petitions to Shaddai and his Son. They also
brake the business to the captains, high commanders, and men
of war in the town of Mansoul, entreating them to use the
means to be strong, and to take good courage; and that they
would look after their harness, and make themselves ready to
give Diabolus battle by night and by day, shall he come, as
they are informed he will, to beleaguer the town of Mansoul.

When the captains heard this, they being always true lovers
of the town of Mansoul, what do they but like so many Samsons
they shake themselves, and come together to consult and
contrive how to defeat those bold and hellish contrivances
that were upon the wheel by the means of Diabolus and his
friends against the now sickly, weakly, and much impoverished
town of Mansoul; and they agreed upon these following
particulars:-

1. That the gates of Mansoul should be kept shut, and made
fast with bars and locks, and that all persons that went out,
or came in, should be very strictly examined by the captains
of the guards, 'to the end,' said they, 'that those that are
managers of the plot amongst us, may, either coming or going,
be taken; and that we may also find out who are the great
contrivers, amongst us, of our ruin.'

2. The next thing was, that a strict search should be made
for all kind of Diabolonians throughout the whole town of
Mansoul; and that every man's house from top to bottom should
be looked into, and that, too, house by house, that if
possible a further discovery might be made of all such among
them as had a hand in these designs.

3. It was further concluded upon, that wheresoever or with
whomsoever any of the Diabolonians were found, that even
those of the town of Mansoul that had given them house and
harbour, should to their shame, and the warning of others,
take penance in the open place.

4. It was, moreover, resolved by the famous town of Mansoul,
that a public fast, and a day of humiliation, should be kept
throughout the whole corporation, to the justifying of their
Prince, the abasing of themselves before him for their
transgressions against him, and against Shaddai, his Father.
It was further resolved, that all such in Mansoul as did not
on that day endeavour to keep that fast, and to humble
themselves for their faults, but that should mind their
worldly employs, or be found wandering up and down the
streets, should be taken for Diabolonians, and should suffer
as Diabolonians for such their wicked doings.

5. It was further concluded then, that with what speed, and
with what warmth of mind they could, they would renew their
humiliation for sin, and their petitions to Shaddai for help;
they also resolved, to send tidings to the court of all that
Mr. Prywell had told them.

6. It was also determined, that thanks should be given by the
town of Mansoul to Mr. Prywell, for his diligent seeking of
the welfare of their town: and further, that forasmuch as he
was so naturally inclined to seek their good, and also to
undermine their foes, they gave him a commission of scout-
master-general, for the good of the town of Mansoul.

When the corporation, with their captains, had thus
concluded, they did as they had said; they shut up their
gates, they made for Diabolonians strict search, they made
those with whom any were found to take penance in the open
place: they kept their fast, and renewed their petitions to
their Prince, and Mr. Prywell managed his charge and the
trust that Mansoul had put in his hands, with great
conscience and good fidelity; for he gave himself wholly up
to his employ, and that not only within the town, but he went
out to pry, to see, and to hear.

And not many days after he provided for his journey, and went
towards Hell-Gate Hill, into the country where the Doubters
were, where he heard of all that had been talked of in
Mansoul, and he perceived also that Diabolus was almost ready
for his march, etc. So he came back with speed, and, calling
the captains and elders of Mansoul together, he told them
where he had been, what he had heard, and what he had seen.
Particularly, he told them that Diabolus was almost ready for
his march, and that he had made old Mr. Incredulity, that
once brake prison in Mansoul, the, general of his army; that
his army consisted all of Doubters, and that their number was
above twenty thousand. He told, moreover, that Diabolus did
intend to bring with him the chief princes of the infernal
pit, and that he would make them chief captains over his
Doubters. He told them, moreover, that it was certainly true
that several of the black den would, with Diabolus, ride
reformades to reduce the town of Mansoul to the obedience of
Diabolus, their prince.

He said, moreover, that he understood by the Doubters, among
whom he had been, that the reason why old Incredulity was
made general of the whole army, was because none truer than
he to the tyrant; and because he had an implacable spite
against the welfare of the town of Mansoul. Besides, said
he, he remembers the affronts that Mansoul has given him, and
he is resolved to be revenged of them.

But the black princes shall be made high commanders, only
Incredulity shall be over them all; because, which I had
almost forgot, he can more easily, and more dexterously,
beleaguer the town of Mansoul, than can any of the princes
besides.

Now, when the captains of Mansoul, with the elders of the
town, had heard the tidings that Mr. Prywell did bring, they
thought it expedient, without further delay, to put into
execution the laws that against the Diabolonians their Prince
had made for them, and given them in commandment to manage
against them. Wherefore, forthwith a diligent and impartial
search was made in all houses in Mansoul, for all and all
manner of Diabolonians. Now, in the house of Mr. Mind, and
in the house of the great Lord Willbewill, were two
Diabolonians found. In Mr. Mind's house was one Lord
Covetousness found; but he had changed his name to Prudent-
Thrifty. In my Lord Willbewill's house, one Lasciviousness
was found; but he had changed his name to Harmless-Mirth.
These two the captains and elders of the town of Mansoul
took, and committed them to custody under the hand of Mr.
Trueman, the gaoler; and this man handled them so severely,
and loaded them so well with irons, that in time they both
fell into a very deep consumption, and died in the prison-
house; their masters also, according to the agreement of the
captains and elders, were brought to take penance in the open
place to their shame, and for a warning to the rest of the
town of Mansoul.

Now, this was the manner of penance in those days: the
persons offending being made sensible of the evil of their
doings, were enjoined open confession of their faults, and a
strict amendment of their lives.

After this, the captains and elders of Mansoul sought yet to
find out more Diabolonians, wherever they lurked, whether in
dens, caves, holes, vaults, or where else they could, in or
about the wall or town of Mansoul. But though they could
plainly see their footing, and so follow them by their track
and smell to their holds, even to the mouths of their caves
and dens, yet take them, hold them, and do justice upon them,
they could not; their ways were so crooked, their holds so
strong, and they so quick to take sanctuary there.

But Mansoul did now with so stiff an hand rule over the
Diabolonians that were left, that they were glad to shrink
into corners: time was when they durst walk openly, and in
the day; but now they were forced to embrace privacy and the
night: time was when a Mansoulian was their companion; but
now they counted them deadly enemies. This good change did
Mr. Prywell's intelligence make in the famous town of
Mansoul.

By this time, Diabolus had finished his army which he
intended to bring with him for the ruin of Mansoul; and had
set over them captains, and other field officers, such as
liked his furious stomach best: himself was lord paramount,
Incredulity was general of his army, their highest captains
shall be named afterwards; but now for their officers,
colours, and scutcheons.

1. Their first captain was Captain Rage: he was captain over
the election doubters, his were the red colours; his
standard-bearer was Mr. Destructive, and the great red dragon
he had for his scutcheon.

2. The second captain was Captain Fury: he was captain over
the vocation doubters; his standard-bearer was Mr. Darkness,
his colours were those that were pale, and he had for his
scutcheon the fiery flying serpent.

3. The third captain was Captain Damnation: he was captain
over the grace doubters; his were the red colours, Mr. No-
Life bare them, and he had for his scutcheon the black den.

4. The fourth captain was Captain Insatiable; he was captain
over the faith doubters: his were the red colours, Mr.
Devourer bare them, and he had for a scutcheon the yawning
jaws.

5. The fifth captain was Captain Brimstone: he was captain
over the perseverance doubters; his also were the red
colours, Mr. Burning bare them, and his scutcheon was the
blue and stinking flame.

6. The sixth captain was Captain Torment: he was captain over
the resurrection doubters; his colours were those that were
pale; Mr. Gnaw was his standard-bearer, and he had the black
worm for his scutcheon.

7. The seventh captain was Captain No-Ease; he was captain
over the salvation doubters; his were the red colours, Mr.
Restless bare them, and his scutcheon was the ghastly picture
of death.

8. The eighth captain was the Captain Sepulchre: he was
captain over the glory doubters; his also were the pale
colours, Mr. Corruption was his standard-bearer, and he had
for his scutcheon a skull, and dead men's bones.

9. The ninth captain was Captain Past-Hope; he was captain of
those that are called the felicity doubters; his standard-
bearer was Mr. Despair; his also were the red colours, and
his scutcheon was a hot iron and the hard heart.

These were his captains, and these were their forces, these
were their standards, these were their colours, and these
were their scutcheons. Now, over these did the great
Diabolus make superior captains, and they were in number
seven: as, namely, the Lord Beelzebub, the Lord Lucifer, the
Lord Legion, the Lord Apollyon, the Lord Python, the Lord
Cerberus, and the Lord Belial; these seven he set over the
captains, and Incredulity was lord-general, and, Diabolus was
king. The reformades also, such as were like themselves,
were made some of them captains of hundreds, and some of them
captains of more. And thus was the army of Incredulity
completed.

So they set out at Hell-Gate Hill, for there they had their
rendezvous, from whence they came with a straight course upon
their march toward the town of Mansoul. Now, as was hinted
before, the town had, as Shaddai would have it, received from
the mouth of Mr. Prywell the alarm of their coming before.
Wherefore they set a strong watch at the gates, and had also
doubled their guards: they also mounted their slings in good
places, where they might conveniently cast out their great
stones to the annoyance of their furious enemy.

Nor could those Diabolonians that were in the town do that
hurt as was designed they should; for Mansoul was now awake.
But alas! poor people, they were sorely affrighted at the
first appearance of their foes, and at their sitting down
before the town, especially when they heard the roaring of
their drum. This, to speak truth, was amazingly hideous to
hear; it frighted all men seven miles round, if they were but
awake and heard it. The streaming of their colours was also
terrible and dejecting to behold.

When Diabolus was come up against the town, first he made his
approach to Ear-gate, and gave it a furious assault,
supposing, as it seems, that his friends in Mansoul had been
ready to do the work within; but care was taken of that
before, by the vigilance of the captains. Wherefore, missing
of the help that he expected from them, and finding his army
warmly attended with the stones that the slingers did sling,
(for that I will say for the captains, that considering the
weakness that yet was upon them by reason of the long
sickness that had annoyed the town of Mansoul, they did
gallantly behave themselves,) he was forced to make some
retreat from Mansoul, and to entrench himself and his men in
the field without the reach of the slings of the town.